Axle unit for driving a vehicle wheel

• US 6,296,321 B1
• Filed: 08/15/2000
• Issued: 10/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NSK Limited
• Original Assignee: NSK Limited
• Inventors: Ouchi, Hideo, Ohkuma, Takeo, Mizukoshi, Yasumasa
• Primary Examiner(s): Stormer, Russell D.
• Application Number:
  US09/638,140
• Time in Patent Office: 413 Days
• Field of Search: 301/105.1, 301/124.1, 301/126, 301/131, 180/252, 180/258, 180/259, 464/178, 464/904, 464/906, 384/544, 403/259, 403/261
• US Class Current: 301/105.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 27/00 Hubs non-metallic B60B5/00; of high resiliency B60B9/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 27/0005 with ball bearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 27/0026 of the radial type, e.g. splined key
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 27/0042 characterised by the fixation of the homokinetic joint to the hub
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 27/0073 characterised by sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 27/0084 caulking to fix inner race
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 27/0094 one or more of the bearing races are formed by the hub
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/184 in O-arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/185 with two raceways provided integrally on a part other than a race ring, e.g. a shaft or housing
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/186 with three raceways provided integrally on parts other than race rings, e.g. third generation hubs
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2326/02 Wheel hubs or castors in general B60B
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/768 between relatively stationary parts, i.e. static seals
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 35/0635 the bore of the inner ring being of special non-cylindrical shape which co-operates with a complementary shape on the shaft, e.g. teeth, polygonal sections
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 35/073 between shaft and inner race ring
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 41/007 Encoders, e.g. parts with a plurality of alternating magnetic poles

Abstract

A compact and light weight axle unit with good durability and reliability for driving a vehicle wheel is provided wherein the splined bore 28 of the hub 6a is engaged with the splined shaft 30 of the drive shaft member 29, and a stop ring 35 is held between the outer engagement groove 25 on the inner peripheral surface of the splined bore 28 and the inner engagement groove 24 on the outer peripheral surface of the splined shaft 30 to prevent the splined shaft 30 from being removed.

Claims

1. An axle unit for driving a vehicle wheel comprising:

a bearing assembly comprising an outer ring having a flange to be fixed to a suspension provided in a vehicle body and an inner peripheral surface formed with an outer ring raceway thereon, and a rotatable inner ring having a flange to which a tire is connected, and an inner raceway ring fixed through crimping to the inner ring at the end thereof on the inner side of the vehicle body and having an outer peripheral surface formed with an inner ring raceway thereon, and the inner ring formed with a fitting bore having an inner peripheral surface formed with a first spline and a circumferential groove or a step portion,

a constant velocity joint having an outer ring which has a fitting shaft at an end thereof on the outer side of the vehicle body, and the fitting shaft having an outer peripheral surface formed with a second spline for spline engagement with the first spline of the fitting bore, and with a circumferential groove, and

a stop ring fitted into the circumferential groove or step portion of the fitting bore and to the circumferential groove of the fitting shaft, so that the bearing assembly is connected to the constant velocity joint through the stop ring in the axial direction.

2. An axle unit for driving a vehicle wheel comprising:

a bearing assembly comprising an outer ring fixed to a suspension provided in a vehicle body and an inner peripheral surface formed with an outer ring raceway thereon, and a rotatable hub having a flange to which a tire is connected, and an inner raceway ring fixed through crimping to the hub at the end thereof on the axially inner side of the vehicle body and having an outer peripheral surface formed directly or indirectly with an inner ring raceway thereon, and the hub formed with a fitting bore having an inner peripheral surface formed with a first spline and a circumferential groove or a step portion,

a constant velocity joint having an outer ring which has a fitting shaft at an end thereof on the axially outer side of the vehicle body, and the fitting shaft being an outer peripheral surface formed with a second spline for spline engagement with the first spline of the fitting bore, and with a circumferential groove,

a stop ring fitted into the circumferential groove or step portion of the fitting bore and to the circumferential groove to the fitting shaft, so that the bearing assembly is connected to the constant velocity joint through the stop ring in the axial direction.

3. An axle unit for driving a vehicle wheel comprising:

a bearing assembly comprising an outer ring fixed to a suspension provided in a vehicle body and an inner peripheral surface formed with an outer ring raceway thereon, and a rotatable hub having a flange to which a tire is connected, and an inner raceway ring fixed through crimping to the hub at the end thereof on the axially inner side of the vehicle body and having an outer peripheral surface formed directly or indirectly with an inner ring raceway thereon, and the hub formed with a fitting bore having an inner peripheral surface formed with a first spline and a circumferential groove or a step portion,

a constant velocity joint having an outer ring which has a fitting shaft at an end thereof on the axially outer side of the vehicle body, and the fitting shaft having an outer peripheral surface formed with a second spline for spline engagement with the first spline of the fitting bore, and with a circumferential groove,

a stop ring fitted into the circumferential groove of the fitting shaft, and the inserted into the fitting bore to be fitted into the circumferential groove or step portion of the fitting bore, so that the bearing assembly is connected to the constant velocity joint through the stop ring in the axial direction.